PC notebook: Back to school on the rules for Pirate staff

Porterville College president Rosa Carlson and athletic director Eric Mendoza will welcome back their Pirate coaches and staff members about 60 miles away from campus this Friday.
Instead of the annual PC fall athletics orientation, the staff will attend the first Central Valley Conference Compliance Summit at West Hills College-Lemoore, joining the other eight member colleges in a unified meeting.

About 400 people – consisting of college presidents, athletic directors, coaches, secretaries, counselors, trainers, eligibility clerks, and equipment managers – will spend six hours in various trainings, workshops, and meetings.

Central Valley Conference commissioner Logan McKechnie and the CVC Planning Board, which includes Mendoza, met during the spring and summer, developing a program where all personnel could receive uniform training on state athletic rules.

“Each athletic director coordinates their own campus training, but this is a great opportunity to have all of our schools on the same page,” Mendoza said.

“It’s a huge commitment from everyone to attend off campus, especially at the start of the fall semester. We are proud to say that Porterville College with be represented very well.”
Prior to each coach and staff member collaborating with their own respective groups, everyone will meet in the West Hills College-Lemoore arena to complete a certificated training on Child Abuse Reporting.

On the heels of recent troubles at Penn State University, new state bills are expected to pass that would require such training.

Each staff member will also participate in their annual training on eligibility, recruiting, and out-of-season competition – which is mandatory.

“Our state athletic constitution is almost 300 pages, so it’s important to review them every year,” Carlson said.

“This summit will provide all of the CVC athletic programs with the most up-to-date rules and regulations for our entire athletic staff, the presidents of the colleges, and other lead administrators involved with the student-athletes.”

Carlson and PC vice president Bill Henry will meet with the CVC presidents and other state officials, including the executive director of the California Community College Athletic Association, Carlyle Carter.

As part of the CVC Planning Board, Mendoza is assigned to lead a two-hour workshop with the softball coaches.

“One of the goals of the summit is to preempt the passage of several state laws coming from the Penn State fallout, where there are currently nine bills at the state legislature,” said McKechnie, who is also an attorney.

“Another goal is to develop comradeship between folks who work on opposite sides. We have a lot of people in the state looking at this summit as ground breaking, and a possible pilot for other state conference to follow. We are looking forward to a great event.”
Mendoza added that everyone working in athletics must complete an online rules exam, coordinated by the state office.

CARLSON “AT THE FORFRONT”
McKechnie also commended Carlson for her heavy involvement at the state level.
The PC president was recently appointed to her second term on the CCCAA Board, serving until 2014. It’s the highest-ranking athletic committee in the state.

Carlson is the chairperson of the Constitution Committee, and also serves on the Academic and Athletic Standards Review Committee, and the Appeals Board. All of the duties require countless hours reviewing paperwork, time on telephone conference calls, and attending meetings around the state.

“The best compliment I can give Dr. Carlson, in regards to athletic leadership, is that she is totally involved,” McKechnie said.

“She has helped develop a great reputation for Porterville College athletics, and being involved in so many aspects of the decision-making process has played a tremendous role. Rosa is at the forefront and she’s a great leader for the CVC presidents.”

Carlson and Mendoza recently led PC through a successful CVC Program Review, and both are looking forward to improving the services for Pirate student-athletes.
 

“Dr. Carlson does an incredible amount of work for athletics – not just at PC, but statewide as well,” Mendoza said.

“In my 15 years being around the CCCAA, I can’t remember another college president who was more involved. With all of the pressure and responsibility to lead a college in today’s world, we appreciate the fact that she finds the time and energy to support athletics at the highest level.”